National Weather Service seeks 'weather enthusiasts' to measure rain, snow

Jack Perry, The Providence Journal
·2 min read
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The National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts, is recruiting volunteers in Rhode Island to help measure and report rain and snowfall totals.

"Calling all Rhode Island weather enthusiasts!," the weather service says in a news release.

The weather service has relied on such volunteers since 2008 to help the agency get a more complete picture of weather events and their impact. For example, the volunteers helped show the dramatic difference Tuesday's storm had on different parts of Southern New England. Volunteers in Warwick, East Greenwich and Coventry reported just a trace of snow, while weather enthusiasts in Western Massachusetts measured 31 inches in Buckland and 26 inches in Ashfield.

The volunteers are part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network, "one of the largest citizen-science networks in the country," according to the weather service. CoCoRaHS reports are used by the weather service, federal and state water resource officials, climatologists and researchers, the weather service says.

"Automated weather stations at airports tell part of the story, but reports from CoCoRaHS help fill in the gaps and provide more detail to those who study rainfall and snowfall patterns," the weather service said.

A plow clears snow and slush from an East Providence road last month. Snow and rain reports from volunteers help the National Weather Service get a fuller picture.
A plow clears snow and slush from an East Providence road last month. Snow and rain reports from volunteers help the National Weather Service get a fuller picture.

Rob Megnia, a meteorologist for the weather service, said, "Reports from CoCoRaHS were critical in helping our office monitor the extreme drought conditions that began over the summer and lasted through the fall. We were able to provide state officials with monthly updates on rainfall to help them make decisions regarding drought declarations."

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The reports of high precipitation amounts in December and January also helped officials determine when the drought ended, he said.

All it takes is a rain gauge, a PC or smartphone app to report online, and an interest in observing the weather, the weather service says. "It’s something that the entire family can do together!" Measurements are taken daily.

Rhode Island has about 100 CoCoRaHS volunteers, but more are needed.

To sign up, go to the CoCoRaHS website and click on the “Join CoCoRaHS” box on the upper right side of the page. After registering, weather observers can take the online training, order a 4-inch diameter rain gauge and start reporting. The plastic rain gauge is available through CoCoRaHS for about $35 plus shipping.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: National Weather Service seeking volunteers for rain, snow monitoring